August 5, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Kansas City Current News Release
KANSAS CITY – The Kansas City Current (3-0-0, 9pts, 1st Place Group C) hosts the North Carolina Courage (1-0-2, 7pts, 1st place Group E) in the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup Semifinals Tuesday, August 6 at 8 p.m. CT. The match is the second of a semifinal doubleheader held at CPKC Stadium Tuesday night, with NJ/NY Gotham FC (2-0-1, 8pts, 1st place Group D) playing Angel City FC (2-0-1, 8pts, 1st place Group B) at 4 p.m. CT. Both semifinals will broadcast on CBS Sports Network. Kansas City fans can listen to Dave Borchardt and Jillian Carroll Letrinko call the Current’s match live on 90.9 The Bridge or on the KC Current App in English and Spanish.
The Current earned the club’s spot in the knockout round by barreling through the competition in Group C. Kansas City scored an average of 3.34 goals per game, while only allowing two through the whole tournament. After opening the tournament against the Houston Dash with a 3-1 win, the Current earned 3-0 and 4-1 wins over Liga MX Femenil sides CF Pachuca and Tigres UANL.
Midfielder Debinha leads the team and is second in the tournament with three goals in the Summer Cup. Forward Kristen Hamilton and team captain Lo’eau LaBonta are tied with two goals each. Rookie midfielder Claire Hutton became the 18th different player to score for Kansas City across all competitions in 2024. Against Tigres, the 18-year-old received a throw-in from defender Izzy Rodriguez with a smooth touch to turn her towards goal. A quick hit found its way over the defenders and out of full reach of the opposing goalkeeper to the far corner of the net.
North Carolina comes to the semifinals by one point over Group E rival, Racing Louisville. Facing NWSL competition, the Courage won in penalties against Louisville and the Orlando Pride before handily defeating Liga MX Femenil’s Monterrey Rayadas 3-0. Five different players each scored a goal for North Carolina in the group stage, while the stingy defense only conceded twice in three games.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kansas City Current midfielder Claire Hutton -The rookie has already played in every regular season game, starting all but one. She is one of the team leaders in minutes played, tackles and passing accuracy. Despite missing some time early in July while with the U.S. U20 National Team, Hutton has played in every match in the tournament so far and against Tigres she scored her first professional…